KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The University of Tennessee Southern women's soccer team is headed back to the national stage after earning an at-large berth to the 2026 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship.
The announcement was made on Friday, Nov. 13, as the NAIA unveiled the 40-team national tournament field. The Firehawks earned one of 15 at-large selections and will make the 23rd NAIA National Championship appearance in program history.
UT Southern enters the national tournament after compiling a 14-4-1 overall record, finishing third in the Southern States Athletic Conference regular-season standings, advancing to the SSAC Semifinals, and closing the season ranked No. 22 in the final NAIA National Selection Committee Poll.
The Firehawks once again proved themselves among the NAIA's elite throughout the 2026 campaign. UT Southern spent much of the season in the national rankings, put together a 13-match unbeaten streak, and earned victories over nationally ranked opponents Lindsey Wilson and William Carey. The Firehawks also led the nation in goals scored and assists for much of the year while navigating one of the toughest schedules in the country.
The national tournament berth adds another chapter to one of the most successful traditions in NAIA women's soccer. UT Southern owns three national championships, capturing Red Banners in 2005, 2007, and 2021. The most recent title came under current head coach Will Austin, who guided the Firehawks to the program's third national championship and has continued to build upon the program's national reputation.
Among teams competing in this year's national tournament, only a select few can match UT Southern's postseason pedigree. The Firehawks' 23 national tournament appearances rank among the most in the nation, while their three national championships place them among the most accomplished programs in the 2026 field.
Second Round Matchup
UT Southern earned a direct berth into the NAIA National Championship Second Round and will face College of Idaho on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 1 p.m. with a place in the NAIA Round of 16 on the line.
The matchup will feature two nationally ranked teams. College of Idaho, known as the Yotes, enters the tournament ranked No. 20 in the final NAIA National Selection Committee Poll after winning the Cascade Collegiate Conference regular-season championship. The Firehawks closed the regular season ranked No. 22, setting up one of the premier Second Round matchups in the national tournament.
A victory would send UT Southern into the NAIA Round of 16 and one step closer to a fourth national championship.
SSAC Well Represented
The Southern States Athletic Conference placed three programs into the 2026 national championship field:
- Life University (SSAC Tournament Champion)
- William Carey University (SSAC Regular-Season Champion)
- Tennessee Southern (At-Large Selection)
Looking Ahead
The Firehawks now turn their focus toward national tournament play and another opportunity to add to the legacy of one of the NAIA's premier women's soccer programs. With a nationally ranked roster, championship experience, and a history of postseason success, UT Southern will once again pursue a place among the nation's best when it takes the field against the Yotes on Nov. 21.
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